SALAZAR SECURES CLEAN WATER FUNDS
FOR UTE MOUNTAIN UTE TRIBE

"Clean Water the Right of Every American"

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John T. Salazar (CO-3) today secured approval for one million dollars for water and wastewater related infrastructure for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. As the only Coloradoan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has direct jurisdiction over the Army Corps of Engineers, Salazar has been in a unique position to build bridges with leaders of both parties to secure support for this critical clean water project. With the inclusion of one million dollars in the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) bill today, Salazar claimed a victory for the Ute Mountain Ute tribe and the fight for clean water.

“Clean water is the right of every American,” said Salazar. “Our rural communities understand the importance of water – water isn’t about keeping our lawns green, it’s our very livelihood at stake. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has been suffering because of poor water quality.  Federal funding for water projects will go a long way to making the water safe.”

Understanding the community’s need for clean water, Salazar specifically pushed for a seat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. One of Salazar’s first actions was to seek approval for federal funds to construct a wastewater system to service the Tribe’s homes and facilities. In a speech on the Floor of Congress earlier today, Salazar emphasized the need for the federal government to support local infrastructure projects.

“The needs of the Third Congressional district are great, and the resources stretched thin,” said Salazar. “The federal government needs to be a strong partner with local communities. That partnership will be strengthened by this commitment of federal dollars. After five years of delay, Congress should move quickly to put WRDA on the President’s desk for signature.”

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s water has been polluted with high levels of selenium, salinity, nitrates and arsenic.  As part of the proposed wastewater project, the Tribe seeks to build a wastewater main extension to services homes and Tribal facilities.  Federal funding would allow existing on-site septic facilities to be taken offline and tied into the existing community wastewater facility.